Oxbridge Applications 2019 (Part Three)

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Today is a big day for many... time for a new thread too

I'm sorry to hear of so many dc's disappointment on this thread....

I'm sorry too. But if it's any consolation, all of dds friends and people that she knows that didn't get an offer are happily settled at their universities now and thriving. If you are someone who got this far, than those skills and determination are something that will support them for life.

I had some kind replies upthread which I didn't want to ignore but I'm at work so couldn't come back to this until lunchtime. DD has got an offer for English. She's delighted but the misgivings I mentioned were social really. I worry about work pushing out play. It does seem that at other universities, there's a more rounded experience - volunteering, a year abroad, more coursework and imaginative assessment rather than exams only. DD is also quite a lefty and socially, she would want more of a class mix which I think would be more forthcoming outside of Oxbridge. DH went to Cambridge and we both felt that she will thrive academically there but I wish it was socially more diverse.

Sorry to hear of the disappointments. No message from dd so it seems as if her resolve to wait until later has held. Not feeling optimistic in the light of others' outcomes.

Holy Sxxt!!!!!!

He got an offer. Pooled to another college.

I wish my Mum was alive. She was born into a very poor family and she would have been so proud. Having said that I do realise that he still has to get through Maths STEP with no help. So he is down to a 50/50 chance.

WorriedMutha - I get the impression from my DD that a lot of the English students do have time for other stuff, in particular (if it's their thing) acting - sounds like a lot spend their summers doing the Fringe and so forth.

Even doing engineering, my DD seems to manage a decent work-life balance. She's done some schools outreach type events and if she doesn't get an internship this summer she'll do more. While she does do quite a lot of academic work in the Xmas and Easter vacs, there's certainly time there for some play, and the long summer break gives scope for a mix.

DD still hasn't heard anything, I'm barely getting work done as I'm just waiting to hear. As DD is on her gap year she's taken the day off.

Congratulations to those whose DC have an offer and best of luck to all DC on achieving the results required to get into their chosen universities.
Fingers crossed to those still waiting to hear. 😀

I wouldn't worry about not being "lefty" enough, WorriedMutha. The students all seem desperate to be woke (in the Arts subjects, at least). The buzzword is "problematic" and there is always major offence being taken on behalf of people who would be either bemused or astonished at the lives of these young people.

The workload is very heavy and I think there's less time for extra-curricular clubs and shenanigans than there was in the past. Certainly it seems that all the students (no matter what their class or educational background) have worked very hard to get there. Not a Bertie Wooster in sight!

Worried that’s why my Dd wasn’t too worried when she missed out on the open day for English, as she was ill. Dd sounds like she would have got on really well with your Dd! She didn’t apply in the end as she wants to do Politics too. I think there will be Politics societies your Dd could get into - I think though there will be plenty of left wingers at any University to be honest. With English, I think it can be a potentially lonely degree whichever University she goes to so I think they really need to push to find friends. Also, tbh I think Oxbridge need more students like your Dd to change from within! Go and visit again and look at the insurance uni too. My Dd has 2 offers exactly the same so is choosing her firm from the offer day experiences!

While my ds did all the open days by himself this time I have permission to accompany him! I'm going to go to a couple at least for a quick look-see and then get out of his way for the rest of the day. I think he understands it will be nice for me to have an image in my head of the place and maybe a quick look at their halls, but he is more than capable of doing it by himself and actually it was good to see him manage it all last year. He's going to at least 3 offer days, now he is focused afresh on rethinking his options after Oxbridge.

Congrats LittleSpace - your mum would have certainly been super proud. So lovely to hear......

"Do most parents come along to offer holder days or let their DCs travel there and do the whole thing alone?"

I will be taking DD and looking around the accommodation with her, but she is doing the offer holder stuff on her own while I have a mooch around Newcastle

Do most parents come along to offer holder days or let their DCs travel there and do the whole thing alone?

A mix. Whatever suits their temperament and the logistics. DD had interviews for all her choices so didn't do offer holders events as well - apart from Cambridge the interview days included the same sort of tours and talks as would be done for offer holders. Logistics dictated DH taking her to all but one, she went to Manchester on the train by herself.

Given your DT2s current gloom I'd guess he'd be best off with some moral support.

No offer here for maths. Oh well. Right now, son plans to do STEP anyway and see how he gets on. Will go to the open days at UCL & Bristol to make a decision.

It is tough.

I'm glad you at least have the news and wish both your boys the best. It's very hard being the only parent and you have had two going through it! Well done you. I'm sure your boys will bounce back and regroup successfully xx

Sorry, my last post was for coleoptera. Congratulations to those who have got their offers though! X

LittleSpace congratulations to your ds :) If you have any questions about STEP pm me and I'll see if I can help. Has he seen maths.org/step/ ? I know it seems daunting. Take a little time to celebrate together before he knuckles down to it and watch all those people who suddenly assume it's a dead cert for him - they add all sorts of pressure that he won't need.

WorriedMutha don't worry about the social side, dd is a bit of a Lefty. Follows in my footsteps . She has no problems at all with it.

Thanks so much - will get him to write down anything he gets stuck on so may take you up on that offer. I think the odds are still iffy. I can't help at all as I only got C at O Level Maths!

He has been working through that online site already.

Congratulations to others and really feel for those who were unlucky. If it helps, one of mine didn't succeed a couple of years back and she is thriving.

Oh my goodness there seem to be a lot of rejections. I am panicking! I know it will be ok if DD goes somewhere else, but I also know how much she wants this and how difficult it will be if she doesn’t get in, initially at least. Good luck to others waiting to hear and big congratulations to the offer holders!

I've told him not to broadcast the news anywhere.

It’s a no for us too.
So proud of her for having a shot at it.
She is on study leave for mocks and now home on her own.
Hope she will settle and be able to get excited about her other options. She is sad though.

Thanks for all the support- the rejection did come as a bit of a shock, as interviews and test went so well, she has 12A and an A A level already achieved... But heyho, it happens, doesn't it?! They said they pooled her but she was not fished. Maybe a gap year and try the other place? Or maybe one of the other 4 will feel like offering her a place? Who knows?
Very well done to all those who got in - it is a fantastic place to go to uni.